COMMUNITY NEWS
NEW TELEPHONE DIRECTORY MAKES IT EASY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2012
Contact: Benjamin Johnson
Phone: (614) 466-6650
Email: benjamin.johnson@jfs.ohio.gov
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has launched a new telephone directory so Northwest Ohioans can report suspected child abuse or neglect 24 hours a day. Ohioans who call 855-O-H-CHILD (855-642-4453) will be linked directly to a child welfare or law enforcement office in their county. Reports can be anonymous.
“Ohio has never had one, easy-to-remember number for individuals who suspect child abuse or neglect,” said ODJFS Director Michael Colbert. “We never want a child to be at risk because an adult did not know where to turn for help.”
ODJFS will first introduce the telephone directory in Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties. The agency will launch the directory statewide in October.
Ohio’s 88 county public children services agencies are charged with investigating reports of child abuse. Currently, each county has its own phone number and protocol for taking reports. The 855-O-H-CHILD Automated Child Abuse and Neglect Directory will supplement existing county phone numbers by providing one statewide number that automatically redirects callers to the appropriate county.
“If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please speak out,” said Director Colbert. “Call 855-O-H-CHILD, make a report, and stand up for a child in need.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: A public service announcement (PSA) promoting 855-O-H-CHILD is available online at www.youtube.com/user/OhioJFS. High-resolution television and radio PSAs can be requested from benjamin.johnson@jfs.ohio.gov.
September 19, 2012
Contact: Benjamin Johnson
Phone: (614) 466-6650
Email: benjamin.johnson@jfs.ohio.gov
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has launched a new telephone directory so Northwest Ohioans can report suspected child abuse or neglect 24 hours a day. Ohioans who call 855-O-H-CHILD (855-642-4453) will be linked directly to a child welfare or law enforcement office in their county. Reports can be anonymous.
“Ohio has never had one, easy-to-remember number for individuals who suspect child abuse or neglect,” said ODJFS Director Michael Colbert. “We never want a child to be at risk because an adult did not know where to turn for help.”
ODJFS will first introduce the telephone directory in Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties. The agency will launch the directory statewide in October.
Ohio’s 88 county public children services agencies are charged with investigating reports of child abuse. Currently, each county has its own phone number and protocol for taking reports. The 855-O-H-CHILD Automated Child Abuse and Neglect Directory will supplement existing county phone numbers by providing one statewide number that automatically redirects callers to the appropriate county.
“If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please speak out,” said Director Colbert. “Call 855-O-H-CHILD, make a report, and stand up for a child in need.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: A public service announcement (PSA) promoting 855-O-H-CHILD is available online at www.youtube.com/user/OhioJFS. High-resolution television and radio PSAs can be requested from benjamin.johnson@jfs.ohio.gov.
CHILDREN IN POVERTY PRESENT HUGE CHALLENGE IN CLEVELAND, OTHER CITIES
A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation offers some stark evidence of how economic inequality affects children in Cleveland.
The report shows that nearly 8 million children nationwide live in “high-poverty neighborhoods,” up from 6.3 million children who lived in such neighborhoods in 2000. (The recession was the clear reason for the big increase.) The study defined high-poverty communities as those areas where 30% of residents or more are in poverty, which in 2010 was set by the federal government as income of less than $22,314 for a family of four. Click here to read more.
A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation offers some stark evidence of how economic inequality affects children in Cleveland.
The report shows that nearly 8 million children nationwide live in “high-poverty neighborhoods,” up from 6.3 million children who lived in such neighborhoods in 2000. (The recession was the clear reason for the big increase.) The study defined high-poverty communities as those areas where 30% of residents or more are in poverty, which in 2010 was set by the federal government as income of less than $22,314 for a family of four. Click here to read more.
HIV/AIDS AND BLACK AMERICA: HOW WE CAN END THE EPIDEMIC
Despite initially being mischaracterized, HIV/AIDS has disproportionately affected black Americans since the very beginning of the epidemic. Today we comprise 14 percent of the U.S. population but account for 44 percent of all new HIV infections. Young black gay and bisexual men are especially at risk. Meanwhile the estimated rate of new HIV infections for black women is more than 15 times as high as the rate for white women, and more than three times as high as that of Latina women. And while we are making tremendous progress to fight the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, too much misplaced blame, misinformation and a general lack of outrage and personal responsibility still exists in our communities. Click here to read more.
Despite initially being mischaracterized, HIV/AIDS has disproportionately affected black Americans since the very beginning of the epidemic. Today we comprise 14 percent of the U.S. population but account for 44 percent of all new HIV infections. Young black gay and bisexual men are especially at risk. Meanwhile the estimated rate of new HIV infections for black women is more than 15 times as high as the rate for white women, and more than three times as high as that of Latina women. And while we are making tremendous progress to fight the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, too much misplaced blame, misinformation and a general lack of outrage and personal responsibility still exists in our communities. Click here to read more.
CHILDREN SERVICES HOTLINE VOLUME SOARS
Franklin County Children Services set records last year, with more than 28,000 calls to the agency’s hot line leading to 13,358 cases of suspected abuse and neglect. “In the 30 years that they’ve been tracked, we’ve never had numbers that high,” Executive Director Chip Spinning said yesterday. The calls alone represent an 11 percent increase over 2010 totals. Officials think the sagging economy and its attendant stresses — unemployment, poverty, crowded living conditions — are the likely triggers. Click here to read more.
Franklin County Children Services set records last year, with more than 28,000 calls to the agency’s hot line leading to 13,358 cases of suspected abuse and neglect. “In the 30 years that they’ve been tracked, we’ve never had numbers that high,” Executive Director Chip Spinning said yesterday. The calls alone represent an 11 percent increase over 2010 totals. Officials think the sagging economy and its attendant stresses — unemployment, poverty, crowded living conditions — are the likely triggers. Click here to read more.
LIFE AFTER PRISON
For former inmates, a first and often insurmountable barrier to the job market is the check-box that asks about criminal convictions, employers understandably wary about potential liability. The state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction estimates more than 2 million Ohioans have a felony or misdemeanor conviction. The record of crime exposes them — and their dependents, in effect — to some form of collateral sanction. Click here to read more.
For former inmates, a first and often insurmountable barrier to the job market is the check-box that asks about criminal convictions, employers understandably wary about potential liability. The state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction estimates more than 2 million Ohioans have a felony or misdemeanor conviction. The record of crime exposes them — and their dependents, in effect — to some form of collateral sanction. Click here to read more.
"Cleveland, I Love You" is a local, independent feature film in Cleveland, Ohio
Comprised of 11 different short films. This project is the work of five writers and six directors. We are very pleased to have among our directors Jamie Babbit, a director who works in Hollywood but who is originally from Shaker Heights. Among the projects on Jamie's long and impressive resume is the 1999 movie, "But I'm A Cheerleader." For this project, Jamie will be directing the vignette "I (Bleeping) Love Cleveland," which was written by Karey Dornetto, a comedic writer who has an impressive resume herself ("Community," "South Park," to name a few). This vignette is a comedy about two sisters who work in a hotel and encounter a large group of lesbians who are on an outing for their Tracy Chapman fan club. The film shoots Feb. 18-20 here in Cleveland. We are also very excited to share that two well-known Hollywood actresses have agreed to star in this film: Busy Phillips ("Cougar Town") and Gillian Jacobs ("Community").
Comprised of 11 different short films. This project is the work of five writers and six directors. We are very pleased to have among our directors Jamie Babbit, a director who works in Hollywood but who is originally from Shaker Heights. Among the projects on Jamie's long and impressive resume is the 1999 movie, "But I'm A Cheerleader." For this project, Jamie will be directing the vignette "I (Bleeping) Love Cleveland," which was written by Karey Dornetto, a comedic writer who has an impressive resume herself ("Community," "South Park," to name a few). This vignette is a comedy about two sisters who work in a hotel and encounter a large group of lesbians who are on an outing for their Tracy Chapman fan club. The film shoots Feb. 18-20 here in Cleveland. We are also very excited to share that two well-known Hollywood actresses have agreed to star in this film: Busy Phillips ("Cougar Town") and Gillian Jacobs ("Community").
MORE COMMUNITY NEWS
Komen Gives New Explanation for Cutting Funds to Planned Parenthood
Executives of the Susan G. Komen Foundation gave a new explanation Thursday of their decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, but their contradictory statements failed to quell a rising controversy that led several of the organization’s affiliates to openly rebel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/komen-gives-new-explanation-for-cutting-funds-to-planned-parenthood/2012/02/02/gIQAkTnklQ_story.html
Income Equality
Income inequality, by many measures, is now greater than it has been since the 1920s. The causes of income inequality are hotly debated and tend to fall into two broad categories. There are market forces -- like increased trade and technological advances -- which have made highly skilled and well-educated workers more productive, thus increasing their pay. And there are institutional forces, like deregulation, the decline of unions and stagnation in the minimum wage.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/income/income_inequality/index.html
Ohio ‘Heartbeat’ Bill Will Force Doctors To Wait Until A Woman Is In Mortal Danger To Justify An Abortion
At approximately 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, Ohio State Senate President Tom Niehaus indefinitely tabled consideration of HB127 (the “Heartbeat” bill): http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/12/14/senate_president_niehaus_actio.html
Cleveland State University's Masters Program in Diversity Management is Developing Culturally Competent Leaders Who Can Lead and Sustain Change
This curriculum is designed for the mid-career adult only requiring classes meeting one weekend per month for 21 months. The classes are highly experiential and focused on developing your leadership skills and yourself as a change agent and effective conflict manager. CSU has created a learning community of highly diverse individuals from diverse industries, public and private sectors to learn best practices. You're also provided a leadership coach to get you where you want to go! For more information, please visit http://www.csuohio.edu/sciences/dept /psychology/graduate/diversity/.
"Teen Relationship Violence: A Resource Guide for Increasing Safety” Developed by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network
A Definition from the Resource Guide: Teen Relationship Violence is a pattern of actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual, financial, verbal/emotional abuse, sexual or reproductive coercion, social sabotage, and/or sexual harassment perpetrated by an adolescent against a current or former partner or a person with whom the teen has some kind of intimate relationship. The goal of these behaviors is to achieve and maintain power and control over the victim. Teen relationship violence can affect any teen, male or female, straight or gay, in a serious or casual, past or present relationship. Any teen can be a victim of relationship violence, but the risk, incidence, severity, lethality and effects of victimization are more significant for females. Relationship violence among teens is pervasive and the consequences can be life‐changing.
Get more information from the Resource Guide by clicking here:
http://www.odvn.org/images/stories/TeenRelationshipGuidewithCorrectP7_Final_10.25.10.pdf
Executives of the Susan G. Komen Foundation gave a new explanation Thursday of their decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, but their contradictory statements failed to quell a rising controversy that led several of the organization’s affiliates to openly rebel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/komen-gives-new-explanation-for-cutting-funds-to-planned-parenthood/2012/02/02/gIQAkTnklQ_story.html
Income Equality
Income inequality, by many measures, is now greater than it has been since the 1920s. The causes of income inequality are hotly debated and tend to fall into two broad categories. There are market forces -- like increased trade and technological advances -- which have made highly skilled and well-educated workers more productive, thus increasing their pay. And there are institutional forces, like deregulation, the decline of unions and stagnation in the minimum wage.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/income/income_inequality/index.html
Ohio ‘Heartbeat’ Bill Will Force Doctors To Wait Until A Woman Is In Mortal Danger To Justify An Abortion
At approximately 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, Ohio State Senate President Tom Niehaus indefinitely tabled consideration of HB127 (the “Heartbeat” bill): http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/12/14/senate_president_niehaus_actio.html
Cleveland State University's Masters Program in Diversity Management is Developing Culturally Competent Leaders Who Can Lead and Sustain Change
This curriculum is designed for the mid-career adult only requiring classes meeting one weekend per month for 21 months. The classes are highly experiential and focused on developing your leadership skills and yourself as a change agent and effective conflict manager. CSU has created a learning community of highly diverse individuals from diverse industries, public and private sectors to learn best practices. You're also provided a leadership coach to get you where you want to go! For more information, please visit http://www.csuohio.edu/sciences/dept /psychology/graduate/diversity/.
"Teen Relationship Violence: A Resource Guide for Increasing Safety” Developed by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network
A Definition from the Resource Guide: Teen Relationship Violence is a pattern of actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual, financial, verbal/emotional abuse, sexual or reproductive coercion, social sabotage, and/or sexual harassment perpetrated by an adolescent against a current or former partner or a person with whom the teen has some kind of intimate relationship. The goal of these behaviors is to achieve and maintain power and control over the victim. Teen relationship violence can affect any teen, male or female, straight or gay, in a serious or casual, past or present relationship. Any teen can be a victim of relationship violence, but the risk, incidence, severity, lethality and effects of victimization are more significant for females. Relationship violence among teens is pervasive and the consequences can be life‐changing.
Get more information from the Resource Guide by clicking here:
http://www.odvn.org/images/stories/TeenRelationshipGuidewithCorrectP7_Final_10.25.10.pdf
